Стивен Ликок - Английский с улыбкой. Брет Гарт, Стивен Ликок. Дефективный детектив / Bret Harte, Stephen Leacock

And then the third.

“The Prince of Wurttemberg can be recognised by a patch of white hair across the centre of his back.”

The two men looked at one another. The mystery was maddening, impenetrable.

The Great Detective spoke.

“Give me my domino,” he said. “These clues must be followed up,” then pausing, while his quick brain analysed and summed up the evidence before him – “a young man,” he muttered, “evidently young since described as a ’pup,’ with a long, wet snout (ha! addicted obviously to drinking), a streak of white hair across his back (a first sign of the results of his abandoned life) – yes, yes,” he continued, “with this clue I shall find him easily.”

The Great Detective rose(Великий Сыщик встал).

He wrapped himself in a long black cloak with white whiskers and blue spectacles attached(он завернулся в длинный черный плащ, нацепил седые бакенбарды и надел очки; to attach – прикреплять, присоединять ).

Completely disguised, he issued forth(совершенно неузнаваемый: «полностью замаскированный» он вышел на улицу; forth – вперед; наружу ).

He began the search(он начал поиски).

For four days he visited every corner of London(в течение четырех дней он побывал во всех уголках: «посетил каждый уголок» Лондона).

He entered every saloon in the city(он заходил: «входил» во все питейные заведения в сити) . In each of them he drank a glass of rum(в каждом из них он выпивал стакан рома) . In some of them he assumed the disguise of a sailor(в одних он появлялся, переодевшись моряком: «в одних из них он принимал маскировку моряка») . In others he entered as a soldier(в другие он входил в форме солдата; as – как, в качестве ) . Into others he penetrated as a clergyman(в третьи он проникал под видом священника) . His disguise was perfect(его маскировка была безупречной) . Nobody paid any attention to him as long as he had the price of a drink(никто не обращал на него внимания, пока у него было чем расплатиться за выпивку: «пока у него была цена выпивки»; to pay attention – обращать внимание; as long as – до тех пор пока; так как, поскольку ).

The Great Detective rose.

He wrapped himself in a long black cloak with white whiskers and blue spectacles attached.

Completely disguised, he issued forth.

He began the search.

For four days he visited every corner of London.

He entered every saloon in the city. In each of them he drank a glass of rum. In some of them he assumed the disguise of a sailor. In others he entered as a soldier. Into others he penetrated as a clergyman. His disguise was perfect. Nobody paid any attention to him as long as he had the price of a drink.

The search proved fruitless(поиски оказались безуспешными; to prove – испытывать, пробовать /устар./; доказывать; оказываться; fruitless – бесплодный; безрезультатный, безуспешный ).

Two young men were arrested under suspicion of being the Prince, only to be released(двух молодых людей приняли за Принца; они были арестованы, но /потом/ отпущены; under suspicion – по подозрению ).

The identification was incomplete in each case(в обоих случаях приметы не совпадали полностью: «отождествление было неполным в каждом случае»).

One had a long wet snout but no hair on his back(у одного была длинная слюнявая морда, но не было волос на спине).

The other had hair on his back but couldn’t bark(у другого были волосы на спине, но /он/ не умел лаять).

Neither of them was the young Bourbon(ни один из них не был молодым Бурбоном).

The Great Detective continued his search(Великий Сыщик продолжал поиски).

He stopped at nothing(он не останавливался ни перед чем).

Secretly, after nightfall, he visited the home of the Prime Minister(тайно, после наступления ночи, он посетил дом премьер-министра) . He examined it from top to bottom(он обследовал его сверху донизу).

The search proved fruitless.

Two young men were arrested under suspicion of being the Prince, only to be released.

The identification was incomplete in each case.

One had a long wet snout but no hair on his back.

The other had hair on his back but couldn’t bark.

Neither of them was the young Bourbon.

The Great Detective continued his search.

He stopped at nothing.

Secretly, after nightfall, he visited the home of the Prime Minister. He examined it from top to bottom.

He measured all the doors and windows(он измерил все двери и окна) . He took up the flooring(поднял настил полов; to take up – поднимать ) . He inspected the plumbing(осмотрел водопровод) . He examined the furniture(обследовал мебель) . He found nothing(и не нашел ничего).

With equal secrecy he penetrated into the palace of the Archbishop(так же скрытно: «с той же таинственностью» он проник во дворец архиепископа) . He examined it from top to bottom(обыскал его сверху донизу) . Disguised as a choir-boy he took part in the offices of the church(переодевшись мальчиком-хористом участвовал в церковных службах; to take part – принимать участие ) . He found nothing(не обнаружил ничего).

Still undismayed, the Great Detective made his way into the home of the Countess of Dashleigh(все еще не теряя надежды, Великий Сыщик отправился в дом графини Дэшли; to dismay – приводить в смятение, лишать мужества; to make one’s way – направляться /куда-л./ ) . Disguised as a housemaid, he entered the service of the Countess(переодевшись горничной, поступил на службу к графине; to enter – входить, проникать /в какое-л. помещение/; поступать /на службу/ ).

He measured all the doors and windows. He took up the flooring. He inspected the plumbing. He examined the furniture. He found nothing.

With equal secrecy he penetrated into the palace of the Archbishop. He examined it from top to bottom. Disguised as a choir-boy he took part in the offices of the church. He found nothing.

Still undismayed, the Great Detective made his way into the home of the Countess of Dashleigh. Disguised as a housemaid, he entered the service of the Countess.

Then at last a clue came which gave him a solution of the mystery(тут наконец и обнаружилось /то/, что дало ему ключ к решению загадки).

On the wall of the Countess’s boudoir was a large framed engraving(на стене в будуаре графини в большой раме висела гравюра).

It was a portrait(это был портрет).

Under it was a printed legend(под ним была печатная надпись; legend – легенда, предание; надпись /на монете, гравюре/ ):

THE PRINCE OF WURTTEMBERG(ПРИНЦ ВЮРТЕМБЕРГСКИЙ)

The portrait was that of a Dachshund(это был портрет таксы).

The long body, the broad ears, the unclipped tail, the short hind legs – all was there(длинное туловище, большие висячие уши, некупированный хвост, короткие задние ноги – все было на месте: «все было там»).

In a fraction of a second the lightning mind of the Great Detective had penetrated the whole mystery(за долю секунды молниеносному разуму Великого Сыщика открылась вся /суть/ этой загадки; to penetrate – проникать внутрь; понимать, постигать ).

THE PRINCE WAS A DOG(Принц был собакой)!!!!

Then at last a clue came which gave him a solution of the mystery.

On the wall of the Countess’s boudoir was a large framed engraving.

It was a portrait.

Under it was a printed legend:

THE PRINCE OF WURTTEMBERG

The portrait was that of a Dachshund.

The long body, the broad ears, the unclipped tail, the short hind legs – all was there.

In a fraction of a second the lightning mind of the Great Detective had penetrated the whole mystery.

THE PRINCE WAS A DOG!!!!

Hastily throwing a domino over his housemaid’s dress, he rushed to the street(торопливо набросив домино поверх платья горничной, он устремился на улицу) . He summoned a passing hansom, and in a few moments was at his house(он подозвал проезжавшую мимо пролетку и через несколько мгновений оказался у себя в конторе; house – дом, здание; заведение, учреждение ).